6/02/2016

New collection of Timberland® footwear and bags to feature Thread™ fabric, made from plastic bottles collected in developing countries

STRATHAM, N.H., June 2, 2016 – Global outdoor lifestyle brand
Timberland today announced a partnership with responsible fabric
manufacturer Thread, furthering both brands’ longstanding
commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Crafted from
plastic bottles collected in Haiti and Honduras, Thread™ Ground to
Good™ fabric challenges how the world thinks about recycled PET. Going
beyond environmental sustainability, Thread also creates social value
in the form of cleaner neighborhoods and job creation for thousands of
people. The partnership – the largest to date for Thread – will bear
its first fruit in spring 2017, with a collection of
Timberland® footwear and bags made from Thread™ fabric.

“We are beyond excited about partnering with Thread,” said Colleen
Vien, director of sustainability for Timberland. “From the moment we
met them, we knew this had the potential to be far more than a
supplier relationship. Building community has always been at the heart
of Timberland, and we were also inspired by the Haiti connection,
given our work there over the past five years. Any time we find an
opportunity to create both environmental and social value, that’s a
big win. And Thread does just that.”

Made in the U.S. with up to 50-percent recycled PET from plastic
bottles collected from the streets, canals and neighborhoods of Haiti
and Honduras, each yard of Thread™ fabric is traced and tracked at
every step of its journey, from bottle collection to fabric creation
to the delivery of the fabric bolt to the manufacturer. This
unprecedented transparency will allow Timberland consumers to learn
about the people, the vibrant stories and the impact metrics behind
each boot, shoe or bag they purchase, so they can know they are making
a difference while also receiving the premium quality they expect from Timberland.

“This partnership is truly special. We’re proud to work with a brand
with such a longstanding commitment to the environment and social
responsibility,” said Ian Rosenberger, CEO of Thread. “Working
together transparently, we’re able to look beyond recycled materials
toward the rich social impact consumers care about and the stories
that bring beautiful products to life.”

The Thread network provides jobs and income opportunities for nearly
3,600 people in the developing world, including roughly 1,800 bottle
collectors, entrepreneurs and manufacturing employees in Haiti where
the supply chain is based, and another 1,800 in Honduras. Beyond
income, employees benefit from valuable services such as job training,
process improvements and micro-loan programs.

Timberland also has strong connections to Haiti, making the
partnership with Thread a natural fit. The brand recently culminated a
five year commitment to plant five million trees in Haiti, which
resulted in the creation of a self-sustaining agroforestry cooperative
helping 3,200 smallholder farmers increase productivity on their
farmlands, increase their incomes and create new opportunities for the
future. To learn more about Timberland’s work in Haiti, visit kombitfilm.com.

Timberland and Thread will discuss their partnership, including the
opportunities it presents to transform the way consumers and brands
think about sustainability, at the Sustainable Brands conference in San Diego next week.

About Timberland

Timberland is a global leader
in the design, manufacturing and marketing of premium footwear,
apparel and accessories for the outdoor lifestyle. Best known for its
original yellow boot introduced in 1973, Timberland today outfits
consumers from toe-to-head, with versatile collections that reflect
the brand’s rich heritage of craftsmanship, function and style.
Timberland markets lifestyle products under the Timberland®
and Timberland Boot Company® brands, and industrial
footwear and workwear under the Timberland PRO® brand. Its
products are sold throughout the world in leading department and
specialty stores as well as company-owned retail locations and online.
Timberland’s dedication to making quality products is matched by an
unwavering commitment to environmental and social responsibility – in
terms of its products, the outdoors, and communities around the globe.
To learn more about Timberland, a brand of VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC),
please visit timberland.com or follow us along the modern trail @timberland.

About Thread

Thread, a Certified B Corporation based in Pittsburgh, PA,
transforms plastic bottles from the streets and canals of Haiti and
Honduras into the most responsible fabric on the planet. Each product
made with Thread™ fabric supports a vibrant network of dignified jobs
in the developing world and the United States. See how at www.threadinternational.comor
follow the Ground to Good™ story @threadintl.